“That’s all?” she quirked her eyebrows at him.
He inwardly laughed. Yes, that was all. Two simple rules, four straightforward words with endless possibilities: My house. My rules. She may have thought the meaning was uncomplicated, but he would prove her wrong, just as he had done with all the others. To dominate was what he lived for; to break down and make his lover submit and obey was his drug, and his word was abso-fucking-lute.
“Can you?” he asked as he circled his index finger made slow deliberate circles over the corner of the paper.
Elsa’s eyes scanned his face and fixed on his mouth. She was serenely beautiful when contemplative and a curious swooping pulled at his insides. When she didn’t immediately respond and her eyes diverted to the tabletop, he reached over and fingered her chin. He demanded eye contact at all times so he could decipher her emotions. Her breath hitched when he touched her and he couldn’t help but smirk. He enjoyed the way she reacted to him. Her initial confidence melted away when their eyes met, revealing her vulnerability. She was afraid of him. As she should be. He liked her fearful.
Or was it something else she was afraid of? He stared into her eyes as he held her steady, his eyes flicking back and forth between each of her brown irises. No, she wasn’t afraid of him; she was fearful of losing him and what he had to offer. He had seen this look far too many times before and not just on the faces of his Chapters, but the many women whom he had dated.
Her lips parted and she licked them uneasily as he sat silently scanning her expression. When her body shivered slightly and her eyes searched his face for approval, he immediately pulled his hand away and intentionally shut out any awareness of her feelings. He was disgusted, not only with Elsa, but with himself. He hated weakness in any form, but most especially the kind that came from sentimentality and love. Fuck love and anything remotely like it. It was a waste of time and effort and nothing good ever came of it.
He swiftly redirected his focus. He would simply learn what he could from her and move on to the next Chapter just like he had done so many times before.
“Well? Can you or not?” he asked, clipped.
When she answered, the air around them seemed to electrify. “I can.”
Let the games begin.
***
Elsa knew she was entering the lion’s den by agreeing to Mr. Black’s seemingly simple request and that her resolve would be tested, but she couldn’t resist the temptation. Nor did she want to. How could she when she saw those entrancing eyes staring back at her? Never in her life had she met a man like Victor Laurenzo and not once had anyone looked as exposed as he did when he looked into her eyes. He appeared to be afraid of the very thing she was. Or was she just deluding herself? Maybe it was all part of the handsome yet deceiving mask he wore. She supposed he would either make her his victim or shield her with his life. She hoped for the latter, but she was willing to take the risk of finding out which one it would be.
Digging into his briefcase again, he brought out a pen and held it out to her, but when she reached for it, he pulled it just out of her reach.
“Once you sign this, there’s no going back,” his gruff voice held a note of challenge as did the wistful expression on his face.
Elsa knew better. The make-shift contract in front of her was neither legal nor binding. Surely a man of Mr. Black’s intelligence knew that. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she nodded and attempted to take the pen from him. As if he had read her thoughts, he held the pen at bay once more.
“If you think you can simply back out of this agreement at any point, Ms. Cassidy, you couldn’t be more wrong. Though this piece of paper may not be legal in a court of law, I follow my own set of laws and rules, and I will hold you to this agreement regardless.”
She quickly lowered her hand and placed it in her lap. There was a certainty in his voice – the kind of certainty that told her that nothing less than her all would be acceptable. A loud ringing in her ears blocked out all sounds as she sat unmoving and gaping at him.
“For how long?” the words caught in her throat.
His pupils flared infinitesimally and his response came without hesitation. “Until I say otherwise.”
Suddenly Mr. Black’s simple rules didn’t seem so simple.
“Are you going to hurt me?” she finally found the courage to ask when he sat silently unresponsive.
“Everything done within these walls will be done with safety in mind. No irreparable physical damage will be caused.”
Mr. Black definitely had a way with words, but he didn’t answer her question. Not directly anyway and the secret expression on his face told her he was holding something back. And what about her emotional well-being? Would there be irreparable damage caused to that?
Remembering what she had read about in an erotic book, she asked, “So what you’re saying is: everything will be safe, sane and consensual?”
Victor clicked the pen several times, one side of his mouth twisting upward as he let out a short, breathy laugh. “Not exactly, but two out of three ain’t bad.”
Her eyes widened to his remark. He had already mentioned safe and consensual… so apparently sane was the one thing off the table. Holding the pen out to her, he wordlessly dared her to take the bait he had laid out for her.
It was too easy for Elsa to get caught up in the way Mr. Black was looking at her. With her heartbeat throbbing in her ears, she took in the vision of him one last time before she made her final decision and signed her freedom away. His beauty was devastating, his shimmering green eyes devious and alluring, his deep-crimson mouth inviting, and his sweetly intoxicating musk overwhelming. The possibilities of the unknown, the danger-factor, and the intrigue of a captivating stranger were impossible for her to resist.
She lifted her hand and as it moved closer toward the pen, her limbs suddenly became heavy and warm. She pushed forward, impelled involuntarily by her own passion and curiosity. She was doing this.
With pen in hand, the tip touched the paper when a wicked thought crossed her mind. She glanced up at Mr. Black and licked her lips purposefully.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have my signature in blood?”
***
Elsa’s words hit a nerve with Victor and the look she was giving him was so galvanizing, it sent a shock wave though him. Their eyes locked as their breathing came in unison and her eyes implored him for his response.
“The blood will come later. For now, I’ll settle for ink,” he couldn’t help but smile.
Her eyes never left his as she scrawled her signature. She was now his to do with whatever he pleased. He neatly folded the piece of paper and placed it into his breast pocket near his heart. It would remain close to him at all times until their time was over.
His eyes roamed over her body while she waited for his command. “Stand and remove all your clothing,” he breathed out softly.
Elsa’s body tensed and Victor began to count down silently. Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven…
She stood and started by removing her steam punk corset, and then unbuttoned her blouse hastily. It had only taken her four seconds to follow his order. It was a good start.
“Slower,” he ordered. Her movements slowed, but only minimally. “S-L-O-W-E-R,” he demanded more firmly as he dragged out the syllables.
Doing as she was told, her hands moved unhurriedly as she plucked the last button open, revealing her lace covered breasts and soft belly. Letting the shirt fall to the floor, she began to unzip her skirt, centimeter by centimeter, her breathing becoming louder the closer she came to being exposed.